Culinary & Food Science graduates are gaining praise, media attention, & jobs

Academics, Community, Faculty & Staff, In the Media, Students

May 5, 2023

Photos by Brittany King

Culinary and Food Science Press Conference participants: Gary Cates (Senior Vice Chancellor, Ohio Department of Education), Cecil Thomas (Ohio State Representative), CFS graduates Nicole Hatfield, and Matthew Schmitt, CFS Program Chair Grace Yek, CFS graduate Alicia Manley, President Monica Posey, Catherine Ingram (Ohio State Senator)

The Cincinnati Enquirer and several local TV stations reported on the graduates who will be the first to earn Cincinnati State’s bachelor’s degree in Culinary and Food Science.

According to the Enquirer‘s front-page article on April 29, the 10 graduating students “are already employed at regional food, beverage, and flavor companies working in product development, food safety and food production.”

TV coverage of the April 28 press conference to recognize the graduates included Spectrum News and Channel 12 news.

At the press conference, Cincinnati State President Dr. Monica Posey, Culinary and Food Science Program Chair Grace Yek, and some of the students were joined by Gary Cates, (Senior Vice Chancellor, Ohio Department of Higher Education), Cecil Thomas (Ohio State Representative, District 25) and Catherine Ingram (Ohio State Senator, District 9).

Program Chair Yek told the Enquirer that the new degree “opens up new avenues for students” to move into high-demand jobs in food science fields.

Upper-level classes in the Culinary and Food Science bachelor’s program were first offered at the College in 2021.

Vice Chancellor Gary Cates and Culinary & Food Science Program Chair Grace Yek — Vice Chancellor Gary Cates of the Ohio Department of Higher Education (center left) and Culinary & Food Science Program Chair Grace Yek (center right) celebrated the College’s first CFS graduates with a special meal